Hot Rods hypothetically speaking... mobile upholstery???

I don't post here often anymore, "real" life got in the way... but somewhere like 4 of you know me...LOL!

Let's just say an old upholstery dude has a sewing machine and a motorhome. He has a desire to travel and still has to make a living. (I.E... fair market value and not cheap, disposable work) What's the possibility gearheads would hire a "nomad" to s***ch their hot rod? I am well aware Krist Kustoms did this for a bit, but given the opportunity would you "loan" your shop to a vagabond if you could be around while your ride was being s***ched?

For the 4 of you who know me, I'm "thinkin' out loud" It's been a few years since I s***ched an entire job, but the way I see it, we get one ride on this crazy rock and I want to see all of it on my terms... I'm kind of curious who would hire some mobile dude with an old Adler sewing machine to s***ch their ride? Samples of work would be provided....

 

My brother is an upholsterer and his favorite work is on boats. Boat owners will pay a lot of money for tops and upholstery but few want to work on them because you have to travel to the marina and install the upholstery there in many cases. So it is extra work but pays better than sofas and chairs. You have to be confident and have the equipment to work on heavy duty vinyl and canvas.

You could make a good living with a motorhome with an upholstery shop in it, going around to marinas and doing boats, in Florida or California in the winter and up north in the summer.

Cars are good too because few upholsterers want to bother with them, which keeps down the compe***ion. You could do hot rods and customs if the opportunity came up but your bread and ****er would be boats.

 

I guess, as long as the potential customers are fine with your schedule it could work. Are you talking about mobile as in being in Richmond Va a few days, Lima Oh, and so on? I guess a good web site with location schedule would work for that. In your travels, you could schedule around the big swap meets like Pate, Hershey, LARS, etc... Hit up big shows as well. Could be a neat adventure, that's for sure.

 

I would in fact i could even provide the machine. I like to be around when the work is being done.

 

Rusty,Have you ever upholstered a friggin boat? rotten wood,foam water logged,and any thing else that goes wrong in a boat...I refuse to work on them....

 

If you lucked out and the first few jobs were major award winners it would be easy to become "the go to guy". In reality I imagine you could easily work around your region, think 4-5 state area, and make a nice living.

 

You just confirmed Rusty's point..."few want to work on them........", therefore, someone who is willing, has a good market awaiting.

Ray

 

..............How soon can you be here?!

 

Some hurdles would be schedule and knowing cost.
I can call local guys to come over and quote
Many times you are opening a can of worms
If i took time off to have this done and you get behind
Well it's not good
Just thoughts not being negative


Sent from my SCH-R970 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I think Fat Luckys was mobile for awhile, maybe still is. Once word starts to travel and the work stands up to scrutiny then you could have a waiting list.

 

a friend did have a box truck to work the marinas here in CT. Plenty of great paying work, mostly Bimini roofs, side curtains and some seats. Part time.

He moved after retirement, to gulf coast Florida, and plenty of boat money there, too

 

Come out the the Island, you can do my '59 Ford. Rear and front seats, all the door and rear seat panels.

 

There's mobile pet grooming and I've seen that plenty busy along with boats, etc.
...go for it!

 

I'd hire a mobile upholstery guy, no problem, as long as he could either provide some (small) examples of his work, a good word of mouth referral, or a guarantee of his work.

Chris

 

What's "Old" is "New" again, take these responses with a grain. The other three people here no what your capable of and know of your master work. The Contemporary, and Hot Rod world lost a great person when you took a hiatus and was measurably missed. A true master of his art form.

 

I can see it as a viable business but one problem would be getting supplies to work with. Most major cities have upholstery supply places but what happens when you go to a small town and need to order a few yards of different fabrics, different thicknesses of skrim, cordage, thread and etc? You could probably carry the basic stuff with you but most people want custom colors for their rides. I bought my own machine a few years ago and have learned a lot but I don't think I am good enough to charge for it yet. We always had sailboats while our kids were growing up and I paid a lot of money for simple Bimini tops and side curtains that I could now knock out in an afternoon.

 

Welcome back brother. If you guys don't know of his upholstery, it's top notch. I think it would work.

Example, my dad needs carpet, door panels and kicks for his 36 pickup. Doesn't wanna leave it anywhere. That stuff would be a snap for you, but to us it's a huge roadblock.

 

My (now on-site) trimmer was mobile. She hauled her stuff in a minivan including a big table that had to be ***embled wherever she went. Since we had such a wonderful history together she came over as a regular contractor 3-5 days a week depending upon the needs of the client and timing. My point being it can be done. Space on the job site is the only concern and hauling parts in and out of a vehicle could be more effort than it's worth. She'd set up in the garage or shop where the work was until it was done.

 

I think its a viable endeavor. I like the idea. Some people want their upholstery done while their car is still mechanically inoperable and this is a good way to have your car complete and out the door once you get it running.

 

With my ocd this has to many variables, last thing comes to mind. Are they truly ready? There will be set backs. This would put me on edge truly.

 

I need some upholstery done in my Modified. I'm in Chester, near Liverpool, on the border with North Wales. When will you work your way over here? ;-)

Seriously, I think mobile is good as long as you have got somewhere to work. That might not be as difficult as first appears. Everyone knows somebody with space for a few days.

 

I seldom have fair market value for a s***cher. But I would not have a problem if someone wanted to s***ch some hydes at my place and I was needing it done. Seems like a viable business to me.

 

I think if you could tow a trailer that you could use for a small mobile workshop it might open up your ability to work places where there is not shop space and would save some time and h***le with set up and tear down every time you went somewhere.

 

It would definitely work.
Do a job (not for free) for one of those TV hot rod build shows for adverti*****t and your phone will be off the hook. Lots of folks can't or don't like the idea of taking their car to a shop where it might get damaged or driven.

 

In the late '50's I worked at a used car lot in L.A. Every time they got a '49 to '51 Merc in, they sent it out for a metallic (insert color here) paint job. As soon as it got back 3 people in a large van with everything needed rolled into the lot and did a complete upholstery job. Woman in the van running the sewing machine and 2 guys installing. In and out in a few hours.

 

Supplies could be the only problem I see... unless all you do is black tuck 'n roll. And how much can you drive around with while on the road? The key would to have supplies shipped to the customer. Or have them order their own stuff.. with some risk.

 

Good to see you back skipstich! I like your idea.

 

There is/was a guy that traveled coast to coast upholstering Br*** Era cars. He had quite a business based on happy customers who would refer him to others with the same era cars. Good luck! Bob

 

Why not.. Just take the time to set up at your place first to try to come up with a working shop. Probably come up with some type of quick knock down tables and such. As far as getting needed materials UPS can deliver to your customers address and away you go.
You could follow some of the bigger car shows and maybe set up in someone's lot outside the show. I'm sure you would get work like small repairs and such. Hell Man give it a try. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

wbrw32 thanks for agreeing with me. If a boat was too rough we wouldn't touch it. We would explain to the owner what needed to be done before we could do our work and usually never heard from them again. This did not happen often.

As for getting supplies we were just outside of a town of 8000 population. The nearest upholstery supply was Ace Upholstery in Oshawa 35 miles away. We could go there and get what we needed or order it and they would deliver. There are lots of upholstery supply shops around the country that cater to mom and pop operations, they don't mind selling small amounts of material and if they are in boat country they will have the boat vinyl in a selection of colors, rot proof nylon thread and everything else you need.

Skips***ch is from Lancaster Ohio population 38,750 so he must know where to get his materials when living in a small town.